Bibles Bible Studies Books

Fee's work and exegesis on the first of the Corinthian letters, actually the second if you have paid attention to this letter, is excellent. Although I do not agree with him on everything his scholarship is second to none. After having gone through this wonderful letter with Fee and his workmanship you will have an obviously more profound view of the letter to the Corinthians and the many things that is dealt with in this letter by Paul. It is a must for true scholarship.

I would pay top dollar for just the section of this commentary that covers the cross of Christ and human wisdom. The remainder of this commentary is also highly beneficial particularly for pastors (like me). I read this commentary in preparation for preaching through 1 Corinthians. At times, the discussion of textual criticism was more than I needed as a pastor, but it was interesting.

Although I don't share Fee's beliefs pertaining to spiritual gifts, it didn't diminish the value of this commentary for me. While this was one of the most expensive commentaries I've ever bought, my preaching series through 1 Corinthians lasted 10 months and 40 sermons, making this book worth the price.

Highly recommend for study of Paul's writings. We used it to supplement a class and were very happy with it.

One of my principle in pick up a commentary is when everthing equal, the newer is the better one. So when I planned to bought one commentary on 1 Corinthians, I prefered Garland's more than Fee's. Both come from a conservative point of view. They have almost the same size (Fee: 904; Garland: 896) and the same prize (Fee US$ 54; Garland US$ 50). Both also get very positive reviews. The different is Fee wrote his 1 Corinthians commentary in 1987 while Garland wrote in 2003, so there is almost twenty years gap between them.

Then when I planned to gave an expositionary preaching from 1 Corinthians 15, I knew that I need Fee's as a comparison. What a surprised! I find that at least for 1 Corinthians 15, I gain more insight from Fee than from Garland. For me, Fee's argument is more mature, and he is also braver and firmer when he must to state something. Garland make Fee as one of his sparring partner but when he disagrees with Fee, it seems to me that he do not give enough power to send his counter attack.

Both are good, really! But now if I must choose one commentary in 1 Corinthians, my choice is clear. For this time, the old recipe is the better one.

NB. I am also skimming Thiselton's work. This one is a huge commentary but at least from the preacher's point of view I must agree with D.A. Carson that "I do not have a good feel for it yet." Too many debate in it. If you need a third choice for 1 Corinthians, I will recommend Ancient Christian Commentary Series produced by Gerald Bray (ed.). You will be surprised with what you can get inside.

Fee taught a course on 1 Corinthians for about 15 years at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary before completing this commentary (I only took his course on Textual Criticism). Thus, this book represents mature scholarship, thought, and an awareness of the kinds of questions people want answers to. The students at Gordon-Conwell were from every confessional background, so his teaching and writing has been for the whole church, and not geared toward charismatics. With about a dozen reviews already posted, I not only review Fee's book, but respond to some recurring comments in the other reviews.

Fee's logic is impressive. He takes 30-35 pages to untangle 1 Cor. 11:2-16, which represents one of the most difficult passages in the Greek NT. His evidence and reasoning are strong, and I've concluded the NIV (and most translations) botch this difficult passage. In trying to smooth out the difficulties in the Greek, our translations create meanings that are not well supported by the Greek nor the culture. Fee offers a sane exposition of this section.

Fee's argument that 14:33b-35 was not original to Paul but an early textual corruption may seem radical. Donald Carson, in his book on commentaries, inappropriately calls Fee's conclusion a "lapse," as if Fee thought this up himself. Yet this scholarly opinion goes back a long, long time. A. T. Robertson & A. Plummer's ICC on 1 Corinthians (1911) indicate that various scholars before their time thought those verses were an interpolation (e.g., Weinel, 1906, Schmiedel 1892, Holsten, 1880, and Hilgenfeld, n.d.). It would be difficult to argue that those scholars were motivated by our modern "feminist" movement! In more recent times, C. K. Barrett's Harper's/Black's commentary (1968) prefers the interpolation hypothesis, F. F. Bruce's NCBC commentary (1971) discusses it but passes no judgment (but he notes how several aspects of those verses are very awkward and difficult to square with the rest of the context and the epistle), and H. Conzelmann's Greek Hermeneia commentary (1975) is more adamant than Fee. Those who flippantly dismiss Fee's arguments seem not to have grasped his evidence nor his logic. The "hypothesis" that these verses were not in Paul's original letter has multiple stands of strong evidence, (mostly internal, but some external). By contrast, the "hypothesis" that the text as it stands was originally from Paul's hand is fraught with difficulties (but makes us feel good because we don't like the concept of later interpolations). The church is divided on issues related to women, so Fee's conclusion is controversial. Yet, our view of the role of women should have NO bearing on the question of the originality of those verses. That must be determined by the evidence.

Also, I am NOT in any way, shape, or form, charismatic (I'm a high churchman). But I acknowledge that the Bible never teaches an "end" to the spiritual gifts (well, we can make some verses teach that if we try). However, I'm very SKEPTICAL of most of today's alleged display of gifts. My fellow non-charismatics seem uncomfortable with Fee's interpretations, but such fears are unwarranted. To say God is free to give gifts as he chooses does not oblige us to accept modern Pentecostal practices.

The "problems" with Fee's book brought up by other reviewers represent one of the book's strengths. It is very scholarly and typically lets the chips fall where they may. We need a fresh look at this epistle that isn't laden with all of our traditions and perspectives that have affected us over the last 1900 years. While Fee is not without his biases, any disagreement with him (as a high churchman, I disagree with him at points) must be met with an equal level of evidence and logic, not with an ad hominem argument that Fee is a charismatic. Fee has given the church a great tool for interpreting God's Word, and I am very grateful for that.

Gordon Fee has provided us with such a "packed" and well-reasoned commentary that I can't recommend it more highly.

This book is very intense and detailed. It takes complete concentration to stay with the author. I have not finished it as yet but need to take my time to understand all that is written. Word by word. Sentence by sentence. It is a wonderful awe inspiring book. That is why I bought it even though I am not Jewish. All Christians and non-christians should read and understand what is being taught.

The Prophets is a classic & has been of great benefit to a class I'm taking on the subject.

Heschel is undoubtedly one of the greatest interpreters of Judaism in the 20th century. Philosophically deep and yet profoundly meditative, his poetic prose makes for a genuine spirirtual masterpiece. The book appeals to a Christian as well as the Jewish audience.

A wonderful, two-volume set that has become a standard reference in the field of the "classical," literary, Hebrew prophets, their prophecies, and their personalities. Amos, Hosea, Isaiah (Isa. 1-39), Micah, Jeremiah, Habakkuk, and Second Isaiah (Isa. 40-66) are analyzed with particular care given to their humanity as they encounter God and men in assuming their respective missions.

Heschel describes his focus in writing: "What I have aimed at is an understanding of what it means to think, feel, respond, and act as a prophet (Introduction). For this Jewish rabbi and seminary professor, "the prophet is a person, not a mircrophone. He is endowed with a mission, with the power of a word not his own that accounts for his greatness--but also with temperament, concern, character, and individuality. As there was no resisting the impact of divine inspiration, so at times there was no resisting the vortex of his own temperament. The word of God reverberated in the voice of man" (Introduction). This examination of the prophets' humanity is most compelling throughout the work with the first chapter, "What Manner of Man is the Prophet?," being worth the price of the set to me.

The second volume addresses at least sixteen different aspects of the prophetic experience, among them: "theology and philosophy of pathos," "meaning and mystery of wrath," "sympathy," "ecstasy," "poetry," and "inspiration." An examination of prophets from other cultural contexts is also included.

Highly recommended to all theologically- and philosophically-minded readers who are interested in gaining a comprehensive understanding of the Hebrew prophets from a Jewish perspective.

This is one of the most interesting books I've read in my life. I am particularly interested in the relationship between the sacred and the secular and using one to illuminate the other. Most writers tend to lean too heavily on one and too heavily against the other. While Abraham Heschel is clear in his beliefs, his faith does not prevent him from thinking about the secular world in ways that enhance my understanding of both the sacred and the secular.

While these books (actually a two volume set in one cover) specifically address the Prophets of the Old Testament, Heschel constantly explores the prophet construct through virtually every useful idea in human intellectual history. This is more than a biography of the Prophets, but rather a deep examination of what the concept "prophet" means and how it compares and contrasts with other religious, ethical, spiritual, and humanistic perspectives.

If you view theology and faith through the lens of someone like Christopher Hitchens (whose current 2007 atheist manifesto and sacred attack is a bestseller now), then "The Prophets" is probably a book you wouldn't like because its foundation is folly, fatuous, and infamous. If, however, you can think about the sacred and the secular - like Fitzgerald's genius who can hold opposing ideas in his head simultaneously - you might find this one of the most interesting books you've ever read.

In the same vein of the sacred-secular contrast, the latest books by the late Philip Rieff might also be interesting to you. Check out "Charisma" and "My Life Among the Deathworks."

This book has just the right amount of reading that beginners can digest each day. With thought provoking questions and comments, it gets a person thinking about how the Bible can apply to one's own life. My group's teens enjoy it and so do the adults!

From 2005 to 2007, I was a youth pastor in Kansas. The team and myself wanted the students in God's Word more outside of services and for there to be opportunities to interact with other students about Christ.

So, we started lunch groups in our schools and empowered students to lead them from our church. They met twice a week and they used the 1 Minute Bible for the dovotional.

I would highly recommend the 1 Minute Bible for personal devotions or for groups to meet as our ministry did.

I give this four stars only because many of the days don't include anything beyond the scripture passage and a quote. The days that do, however, provide excellent devotional thoughts. Along with this, the entire framework of the Bible is covered in only minutes a day. What more can be expected of one book (outside of the Bible itself?).

The best way to use this resource is to study it in a group with the curriculum written by the author available at simplyyouthministry.com. Use this with your class and the impact will be much greater.

I got this book when I started to deepen my faith and found it as a great way to learn the Bible. Every day, there is a story from the Bible that includes scriptures to look up that apply to the story and a fun thing such a verse to memorize or a profile on a person in the Bible. I have since passed it down to my sister and she reads it every day. A great book with great intentions.

I am in my early forties and just found a type of Bible that I really enjoy reading. It is not easy to read just one study a day since you want to continue reading. Would recommend to those who want to start reading the Bible.

Walton's book focuses on the similarities between the Ancient Near Eastern religious teaching with the Old Testament. He is careful to point out that similarites between the two doesnt necessarily imply that one is borrowed from the other. He emphasizes that they came to some similar conclusions based on their similar environments. This is a quite interesting take on this hotly debated subject.

His introduction to the book and introduction to Near Eastern literature is excellent.

However, while I will admit readily there are some similarites between Ancient Near Eastern religions and the O.T., Walton seems to see some similarities that I do not. He seems to be reaching quite a bit in those instances. For this reason, I gave it three stars.

The similarities between the two schools of religious thought are so few and far between that I feel a case could be made for coincidental similarities.

The book did however, accomplish what I thought it would accomplish. Regardless of the author's comments, the comparisons between the religions really emphasizes the distinctiveness of the O.T. For that reason, I am grateful for purchasing the book. Its something I have never doubted, but it certainly makes the chasm wider between the Ancient Near Eastern religions and the religion of the O.T.

Of course, the difference is one is real, and the others arent.

"The synthesis that I have offered is undoubtedly characterized by assessments that some scholars will judge to be misleading, premature, or even wrongheaded. ... Instead, I desired to sift through the information provided by the specialists who have diligently made the literatures and cultures of the ancient Near East available to us,..." John Walton.



Prologue to Hermerneutics:
Half a century past, when I read the Old Testament in the city where it was first translated from Hebrew, now then, in its cousin language Arabic, much of the biblical narratives seemed stories from an ancient mythical past to me, the young Psaltos. However, when I started to formulate inquisitive questions, the most refreshing though troubling replies came from my father, a specialist in comparative civil law, a professor in the French Lyceum and a former Viennese student in the European enlightenment milieu of the thirties, the young teenager was then introduced to comparative criticism through JH Breasted, Gardiner and Lang when I began to understand how ancient Egyptian viewed the world, the Old Testament becomes more clearly a book that stood "within its ancient context, while also speaking against it," in the words of Wheaton's J. Walton.

Renewal of Biblical Studies:
"The rediscovery of Egypt began in earnest in the eighteenth century AD and of Mesopotamia in the mid-nineteenth century AD. With the decipherment of the ancient languages, the tens of thousands of texts that were being unearthed began to be translated and analyzed. ... Initial studies were inclined to be defensive of the Bible, even if such a stance required the dismissal or distortion of the cuneiform texts. The flurry of activity in connection with the relationship of these texts to the Bible had reached a critical mass of sorts by the turn of the century; and, consequently, widespread attention was attracted by the series of lectures presented in 1902 under the auspices of the German Oriental Society and attended by Kaiser Wilhelm II."

Israel's Intellectual Milieu:
John Walton suggests three main roles that a comparative study could play in Hebrew Bible interpretation: critical analysis, defense of the biblical text, and exegesis. He focuses on exegesis and its particular importance for guarding interpretation against applying modern world-views. Walton offers a thoughtful introduction to ancient Near Eastern literature and the common milieu of 'cognitive environment' that rediscovers the world of ancient Israel. He evaluates concepts of ancient beliefs on gods, views on people and history, about religion, the cosmos, after surveying types of literature, after a survey of the interface between the ancient Near East and Israel, clarifying the analogies and non similarities between them.

Comparative Biblical Study:
This book provides an excellent introduction to the field of comparative Biblical studies and integrates many specialized studies by Coogan, Chavalas, Currid, Kitchen, Redford, and Yamauchi on Israel's neighbors. He makes use of extra biblical resources to enrich their understanding of ancient Israel and its Scriptures. This is very well explained by Peter Machinist, of Harvard University, "Comparisons between the culture of biblical Israel and the other cultures of the ancient Near East have long been a fundamental part of biblical scholarship, but more often than not, they have been presented in piecemeal, isolated fashion. In his new book, John Walton offers a much broader reach, giving us arguably the most extensive review of these cultural comparisons now available together with a serious meditation on what the enterprise of cultural comparison is all about in biblical study."

Analytical Book reviews:
- "... excellent survey of the interface between the ancient Near East and Israel. I especially appreciate his sidebars on 'Comparative Exploration,' which enable readers to 'zero in' on the comparative topic of their choice relatively easily."--Mark Chavalas, U. Wisconsin
- "... an important and useful guide to entering into some of the major worldviews and value systems found in ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Israel. ..., bridges the gaps between ancient Near Eastern texts and the perspectives of the Bible." Richard Hess, Denver Seminary
- "Walton penetrates beyond the simple comparisons often made to bring back intelligence about the contexts and constitution of the ancient world, stressing the ideas Israel and its contemporaries held in common. Yet Walton repeatedly demonstrates how Israel's faith was distinct,..." Alan Millard, U. of Liverpool

First off I want to say that I audited a course by the author of this book, and read through the book throughout the semester. It is part of the core curriculum for an M.A. in New Testament or Old Testament Exegesis at Wheaton. I am a pastor who preaches regularly. This book has impacted my entire understanding of the Old Testament in a powerful way.

The logical format of this book gives the reader a simple and effective way to slowly enter into the worldview of ancient people. The author is very good at giving readers hinge concepts to help understand the distinctions between our worldview and their worldview.

The book categorizes ancient near eastern thought into topics that are actually enjoyable to read. Each topic could easily overlap with other topics, and Dr. Walton does a great job of separating the topics without distorting them (in my opinion).

This book tackles thorny issues that separate Evangelicals from Liberals in the land of scholars, without alienating either side of the issue. Walton's premise is that we should abandon the old approaches to Ancient Near Eastern Thought and simply understand what they believed, and how it was different from or the same as Old Testament thought.

One concept that emerges as the book develops is the idea that some Israelite prophets argued for the support of the covenant with God rather than for the reinforcement of the Kings authority (as the prophets of other cultures and sometimes Israeli culture did). This sets Israeli prophets who held to the covenant with God at odds with everyone else who prophecied in Israel and around Israel. Coupled with the exclusiveness of the Jewish religion, and the people soon became alienated from those around them and sometimes from their own religion or people.

Probably the most helpful aspect of this book is his excellent approach to comparative studies without labeling certain parts of the bible as extensions of other cultures or vice versa. His approach, when properly understood, is actually what both sides of the historical divide on this topic ought to be doing. I find it not only full of wisdom, but extremely helpful in preparing sermons from the Old Testament.

A nice companion to this volume is The Bible Background Commentary of the Old Testament. I think that this book shows you how to use the Bible Background Commentaries.

One criticism that I would like to mention is that some of the charts in this book are a bit difficult for me to understand. That's an area that the next edition may have to improve on. However, there are only a few pages like that and the rest of the book is really a very very good summary and introduction to Ancient Near Eastern Thought and the Old Testament.

Some of the topics he covers include but are by no means limited to:

The Ancient View of the World.
The Ancient view of the heavens.
The Ancient view of Temples
The Ancient view of Omens and Magic.

I think he has around 13 topics in all. This book is well worth reading and if you plan to teach from the Old Testament over the years, you might want to pick up a copy for your personal library. It's packed with helpful references also.

very scholarly, but easily understood,; cogent discussion of how to understand the Hebrew Bible on its own terms, integrating science and archeology. a must have book.

Divided into five distinctive sections, this book provides an introductory look at the conceptual world surrounding the Hebrew Bible. The five sections are Comparative Studies, Literature of the Ancient Near East, Religion, Cosmos, and People.

The section on Literature of the Ancient Near East is is a good, although very brief, survey of the literature of the ancient near east including Egyptian, Sumerian, Akkadian, and Hittite. The author has included a good cross section of ritual texts, letters, chronicles, legal collections, hymns, wisdom literature, and prophecy.

The section on Religion is subdivided into The Gods, Temples and Rituals, and State and Family Religion. Here the reader is exposed to ancient thought on these subjects with the intent that they come to understand the common beliefs and practices well as beliefs and practices that differentiated them from each other.

The section on the Cosmos examines both the geography of the cosmos and the beliefs surrounding them. The section on the geography of the cosmos is excellent and includes an examination of the structure of heaven, the earth and the netherworld. I found this section to be particularly interesting and very informative with an excellent exposition on the Hebrew word "bara" and the functional aspects of naming.

The final section on People provides an excellent examination of the various concepts of creation of the human race as well as what it means to be human. It also includes a very good explanation of the interaction between the people and their religion including prophecy, oracles, and their perception of history as a nation. This section ends with a discussion of the beliefs about the future of the earth and what happens after death.

Throughout the book the author has included excellent side-bar sections offset in shaded boxes that further illuminate related ideas and concepts. These often contain some of the best and most interesting observations of the material if you are already somewhat familiar with the subject.

Ancient Near Eastern Thought and the Old Testament provides a solid comparative study of the various literature from the ancient near east showing both commonalities and differences with the beliefs of the nation of Israel. The book clearly sets the culture of Israel in the Old Testament times alongside those of its neighbors and allows the reader to better understand the mindset of the time. Ancient Near Eastern Thought and the Old Testament is highly recommended.

Since its initial publication in 1994, this slim volume has become THE must-read book for anyone seeking to reconcile being gay and being a Christian.

Helminiak makes his case incredibly well...he goes through the Scriptures step by step to reveal and discuss the historical context and the meaning behind them.

I cannot say enough good things about this book, but if you are gay and Christian, RUN to your nearest bookstore or order a copy online immediately. It is a very easy book to read; Helminiak is not writing to scholars here but to ordinary citizens. And his conclusion that the Bible says NOTHING about homosexuality is breathtaking, and he backs it up with Scripture all the way.

This book points out what I have believed for decades; the Bible has been transalated and retranslated so many times over the millenia a lot of it is open to spin and interpretation. Whether the Bible condemns or condones homosexuality is largely irrevelent to me as the whole book is simply a bogus replica of a host of pre Judeo-Christian myths, cultures, and beliefs and in the 21st century serves as a means by which Christian bigots can base their hatreds.

When I received this book, the first thing I noticed was glowing endorsements from Spong and Countryman, neither of whom are exactly conservative theologians. Then I noticed that this is a popular book and therefore there are no footnotes or references, so I cannot check his sources to see whether he is saying the truth or not, probably just as well, as he can lie with impunity.

On page 26 he trots out the party line by saying that one is "born gay, it cannot be changed and is benign", none of these statements are factually true, they are simply popular myths. He then compounds the error by comparing homosexuality with race and left-handedness. Once again he is incorrect. If homosexuality was like left-handedness (i.e. genetic) then we would expect the same percentage of homosexuals in rural and urban areas, yet this is precisely what we do not find, even for young people who have not migrated yet.

On Sodom, he gives the usual revisionist interpretation (based on Boswell and Bailey), it was about their inhospitality, this is a half truth, they were very inhospitable. The men of the city wanted to have sex with the male visitors, they wanted to rape them and unknowingly they would have raped angels. The purpose of the narrative was to show that God was just in destroying the cities.

On the meaning of arsenokoitai, he is unsure of the meaning, but if it does refer to male same-sex acts then it only "condemn wanton, lewd, irresponsible male homogenital acts but not homogenital acts in general" (p. 105). Of course the etymology of arsenokoitai is well know, it is derived from the Septuagint translation of the Levitical prohibitions of male-male intercourse (see Scroggs, p. 65), but this is rather inconvenient to Helminiak because it means that Paul thought that the Levitical prohibitions still applied in his day. Helminiak is aware of this (see p. 111), but he soft peddles here, lamely saying that 1 Cor 6:9 and 1 Tim 1:10 "may be repeating the prohibitions in Leviticus 18:22."

Then we come to Helminiak's best lie. His word study of toevah and bdelygma on p. 64-65. Toevah is the Hebrew word usually translated as abomination and bdelygma is the Septuagint Greek equivalent translation. Toevah is used in the Levitical prohibitions on male-male sex in Lev 18:22 and 20:13. He confidently asserts that toevah means "what is culturally or ritually forbidden" it is not a sin. He then compounds the error by saying that the Greek translation bdelygma, which he says, means a "ritual offense". When I looked up the meaning of the words toevah and bdelygma, the actual meanings of these two words is nowhere near as narrow as Helminiak implies. Toevah can be used in both a ritual and a moral sense, the same as bdelygma. In Lev 18:26-30 toevah is used four times and refers to adultery, child-sacrifice, male-male intercourse and bestiality (in Lev 18:20-23), bdelygma translates toevah in three of these verses. In the New Testament bdelygma is used of the "abomination of desolation" (Mat 24:15).

Lastly, we come to another quirky interpretation of Helminiak. The Greek word akatharsia which is translated "impurity" and Paul uses it in Rom 1:24 just before he talks about those who indulge in female-female sex and male-male sex in Rom 1:26-27. In all nine cases when Paul uses this word akatharsia it refers to moral sin. And yet Helminiak rather weakly says that "It must be admitted that Paul's use of the word impurity (akatharsia) here is out of line with his usage elsewhere" (p94). In other words making a scriptural case for homosexuality always involves special pleading, even lying.

This is the second edition of this book, so he had plenty of time to rectify any mistakes in his first edition, I suggest that he includes footnotes in his third edition.

From the synopsis: While cautioning against viewing biblical teaching as "the last word on sexual ethics," he stresses the need for accurate understanding of what the biblical "facts" are and concludes that "the Bible supplies no real basis for the condemnation of homosexuality."

A fundamental platform of what Christians believe is that the Bible IS the inerrant LAST word on ALL morality and ethics.

The description of the book attempts to claim that homosexuality "as we know it" was a concept lost on the ancient world. COME ON!!! Are you KIDDING me??? Where do you think we got it?? That same sex relationships just sprung up out of nowhere in the last 1000 years??

I'm sure this book makes a lot of people feel good about their struggle with reconciling what the Bible says with homosexuality. The only problem is you have to completely ignore what the Bible ACTUALLY says to swallow it.

Sad. Misleading. If you want to know what the Bible really says about homosexuality, just read it. It means what is says. It says what it means. Period.

For those who prefer an in depth researched and well written book on homosexuality in the church...DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK! It is too generalized and shallow of a writing and not convincing at all. Though a few of his points may be somewhat accurate and his aims are honorable, look for another resource. It is poorly written, research is rarely cited, and terminology is very vague.

I love this book, i bought it when the radio station started playing Pastor Davids teaching series on this book, and i tell you, your life wont be the same again, the writing is so clear and filled with the Word of God, its a real booster to your christain life.

I got so much from this book that I ordered it for a 90 year old Christian friend. She tells me that it is the best book on prophecy that she has ever read and she keeps going back to it.

Escape the night is a book that takes some of the mystery out of the book of Revelation. It of course parallels the scripture but helps the reader understand Gods ultimate plan for the world. You should read the book of Revelation but if you are struggling, this work by Dr. David Jeremiah will be of great help!

Dr. Jeremiah in this book, as in his Turning Point television broadcast, uses anecdoctes in explaining scriptural truth, in this case the book of Revelation. Even though Jeremiah is right on theologically, his story-telling style might be frustrating for readers who want to get straight to the verses, word study, context, and just a more academic approach to understanding Revelation. On the other hand, people who enjoy Bible-based fiction or those who just don't want to strain their brain with study, might appreciate being introduced to Revelation through this book. If you like this book, I'd recommend Jeremiah's HANDWRITING ON THE WALL, which is a similar style commentary on the Old Testament book of Daniel, and which would actually be helpful to read first, since some of Revelation is based on Daniel. For those wanting a more academic approach to Revelation, I recommend Ryrie's more academic REVELATION as accessible to the beginner, and still more detailed would be the commentaries of Walvoord, Robert Thomas, or even Newell. All of these, like Jeremiah, hold to the conservative, evangelical "pre-trib, pre-mil" endtimes view that the rapture will take place before ("pre") a 7-year tribulation before a literal millial (i.e., 1000 years) reign of Messiah on Earth.

While not every word of the tape series in contained in the book, this book is nevertheless one of the best on Revelation. Until I read "Dragons, Grasshoppers, & Frogs", I thought this was the easiest commentary on the book. But "Dragons" is specifically written for teens and newbies, and is quite a bit more practical and better organized.

Jeremiah is premillennial and pretribulational. If you are not of that persuasion, you will be really disappointed--not to mention confused. I am, so I wasn't.

Highly recommended.

I own the complete Video series and have gone through the study with 2 different groups. The Leader's Guide was helpful the first time around.

Beth Moore's studies are great! This book may not be totally necessary, but it makes it more comfortable when you lead the sessions.

I was very happy with how quickley I got this book and the condition it was in. Thank you!

i dont think there was anything that went unanswered. i was able to find everything i needed to perches what i was looking for thank you. however i was looking for the study book to breacking free by beth moore and wasn't able to find . the book and the daily devotion are great to have for a lift in the morning and makes a great way to pray for the day. i have found freedom with the series.

We have not completed the study but in reviewing all the information it should be an awesome study. It will give us a new strength in our Lord Jesus Christ and a peaceful walk with HIM.

It's not too bad for a novus ordo book pretending to be Catholic. Rather limited but I find it useful sometimes in writing my sermons.

This is an interesting book. It is very useful to give one a better understanding of his faith. The book helps a person to be able to defend the crucial doctrines of the Catholic Church.

By no means is this a thorough treatment of the scriptural basis for Roman Catholic doctrine. But, neither was it intended to be so. It does provide a handy quick-reference for reminding you of key passages in this long-standing debate. Books such as this make me a little uneasy in that they may imply an acceptance of the Sola Scriptura (Bible alone) premise - conceding the entire debate to the dubious doctrines of one side in that debate. In no way should one make that mistake - Mr. Madrid is not attempting to accept the Sola Scriptura premise but is simply providing the evidence one might need to refute the claims that scripture militates against Roman Catholic doctrines. Some of those doctrines are not so clearly spelled out in scripture as are others and to those we are indepted to the entire teaching history (Tradition) of the church. At the same time, that sacred Tradition does not contradict sacred Scripture - indeed, no such dichotomy between the two exists.

Again, this is a handy quick reference for one who is already familiar with the topic and not a treatise on the doctrines as a whole. Good to keep handy but only a start to understanding the faith fully. This is a very useful book and good to have handy for frequent reference.

"Where is that in the Bible?" by Patrick Madrid is the perfect brief book for anyone who has wondered what the Biblical basis is for some of the things that Catholics do and believe. "it is designed to be a handy reference guide, an overview of the major biblical passages that pertain to many issues that tend to come up between Catholics and non-Catholics." But even if you never use this book to debate with anyone regarding your faith, it is useful simply to have a deeper understanding of one's own faith.

There are six main divisions to the book dealing with authority, doctrines, the sacraments, customs and practices, moral issues and non-Catholic beliefs. The chapter on "Authority" discusses the roots of the papacy, the authority of the Church, the role of tradition and the role of Scripture. "Doctrines" discusses Catholic's understanding of Mary, the mother of Jesus, the Trinity, Purgatory, salvation and more. The roots of the seven sacraments are covered in the chapter on "The Sacraments." "Customs and Practices" covers many of the practices that others may take issue with in the Church. For example, the role of priestly celibacy, tithing, and repetition in prayer. "Moral Issues" covers many of the hot-button issues of our day including abortion, divorce, and homosexuality. The final chapter "Non-Catholic Beliefs" seems somewhat out of place in the book, but it deals with why certain non-Catholic beliefs are not biblically based such as the claim of Jehovah's witnesses that only 144,000 will be saved.

"Where is that in the Bible?" is not an exhaustive discussion of these beliefs and practices. Rather, it offers brief treatments with a few well-chosen Bible passages. It is a worthy introduction for those who have wondered about any of these issues.

I joined the Catholic Church at Easter in 2000. I used to be a Baptist/Congregational/Bible Church Protestant. With my past and my present, I'm one of those people who's literally been on both sides of the fence in the "who's right, who's wrong" debate. Patrick Madrid, a favorite apologist of mine, compiled this wonderful little "fieldguide" to Catholicism that takes major Catholic beliefs and supplies Biblical evidence for them. He also uses the Bible to debunk a few beliefs of other religions as well.

The book is broken down into six distinct areas of study: 1) Authority, 2) Doctrines, 3) The Sacraments, 4) Customs and Practices, 5) Moral Issues, and 6) Non-Catholic Beliefs. What makes this book unique is the fact that Madrid goes out of his way to eliminate Sacred Tradition, the Catechism, and those books of the Bible not accepted by most Protestants in order to defend each issue. He will sometimes hint at these sources, but primarily uses the Bible as accepted by most mainstream Protestant faiths. Much like his book, "Answer Me This!," which takes fifty frequently asked questions by Protestants of Catholicism and answers them, Madrid breaks each section of this book into short, to-the-point explanations. This isn't an exhaustive or thorough resource book, but it is easy enough to carry along with you most of the time. I'd also suggest toting along a Bible with you, as Madrid lists numerous references but does not print each one of them out on the pages of his book.

Overall, this book combined with "Answer Me This!" will provide any Catholic with a solid defense of their faith. It's also a wonderful book to use in day-to-day Bible study. It's a wonderful little resource to have around whenever friends or neighbors question your faith.

Highly recommended.

This is an excellent resource for those who are interested in obtaining a Biblical view of eschatology. It is detailed, thorough, and well organized. As an undergraduate Bible and theology major, I found myself leaning toward an amillenial view of the end times. My study of the Bible and this book, however, have solidified my current "pre-trib./pre-mill." position. While my soteriology is still reformed and my form of worship Anglican, my eschatology is now dispensational.

Wonderful!The Footsteps of the Messiah: A Study of the Sequence of Prophetic Events, Revised Edition

I am a pretribulationist, and I have been on the prowl to see if there is a recent release that can match up to J. Dwight Pentecost's massive and classic tome, "Things to Come." This is not it.

Dr. Fruchtenbaum has weird ideas on almost every page, far too often to be a reliable resource for the student of prophecy. Where should I begin? First of all, he believs that the antichrist will be supernaturally born of a virgin just like Jesus was. He also applies nearly every Old Testament prophecy of judgment to the future Great Tribulation, when at least half of these prophecies probably refer to the judgment on Israel at the time of the Assyrians or to Judgment on Judah at the time of Nebuchadnezzar (a very common dispensational error which ignores the historical and biblical context of the prophecy).

Fruchtenbaum also believes that each one of the churches in Asia Minor represents a different era in history from the time of Christ to today, even though I doubt seriously whether the apostle John would have thought of this. Furthermore, who decides which historical events to use?

This problem is exacerbated even further with Fruchtenbaum's identification of the 4th beast of Daniel 7, which he applies to many different kingdoms stretching from the time of the Roman Empire until today. He regularly interprets the prophetic scriptures in a way which would be totally alien to the authors who wrote them down.

Certainly, there are OT passages which speak of a future tribulation - Deuteronomy 30, Jeremiah 30:4-7, etc), but not nearly as many as Dr. Fruchtenbaum would suggest.

There are many more strange and novel interpretations, and it is ironic because Dr. Fruchtenbaum presents himself as a champion of literal interpretation.

My recommendation is to skip this expensive book. It's not worth the money and you are far better served to get Pentecost's book.

I found this book phenomenal - an absolute must to anyone wishing to learn and understand God's word. It will help lay a solid foundation of understanding on which the rest of God's word and God's plan will sit.

This book will answer every question you have concerning the sequence of (and details of) yet-future prophetic events and God's future plan for mankind. The author with ease, points out God's teachings straight from the bible and inserts nearly all scripture text being discussed. He uses the King James bible translation so if you prefer NIV or NASB (etc.) be prepared to open your own bible while reading this book. This book is captivating, intriguing and amazing. This book also has some amazing content within its Appendix. This book is a must to anyone wishing to understand God's word.

A comprehensive study of Eschatology, that is as about as good as it gets. The exceptionally in-depth study of not only the scriptures, but how to study the scriptures, is a must for any serious follower of Yahushua (Yeshua) Hammashiach. Dr. Fruchtenbaum's grasp on the material, truly seems inspired, and I believe will allow most readers to get a firm grasp on "end-time" prophecies as well as help them receive the peace and hope that these prophecies are meant to provide. There is an accompanying study guide now available at Dr. Fruchtenbaum's website at [...], that makes for a marvelous Sunday School or Bible Study course on Eschatology.